Aṅguttara-Nikāya
Pañcaka-Nipāta
23. Dīgha-Cārika Vagga

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXIII: Wandering Afield

Sutta 226

Dutiyo Kul'Ūpaga Suttaṃ

The Visitor of Families (b)

[190]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied; and the Exalted One said:

Monks, there are these five disadvantages
to a monk, who visits families
and lives in their company too much.

What five?

He¹ often sees women-folk;
from seeing them,
companionship comes;
from companionship,
intimacy;
from intimacy,
amorousness;
when the heart is inflamed,
this may be expected:
either joyless he will live the godly life
or he will commit some foul offence
or he will give up the training
and return to the lower life.

Verily, monks, these are the five disadvantages
to a monk, who visits families
and lives in their company too much.